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Martina
Franca is located
in the Southern Murgie,
half way between the
Ionio and the Adriatic
sea, 431 meters above
sea leve. It has a
territory of 295,4
Kilometres and a population
of 46.000 inhabitans.
It is a city of art,
its old town center
is an example of baroque
art best preserved,
and with historical
evidences such as
The Ducal Palace,
The Church of S. Martino,
The Church of S. Domenico,
the Church of S. Domenico
and of Carmine. Non
mentioning all of
the ancient buildings
located all over the
old town.
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The
origins of Martina
Franca are not sure,
according to the local
historians, the city
origins date back
to the X century,
when a group of refugees,
escaping from Taranto
because of the Saracen's
invasion, founded
a little village on
San Martino mountain.
The juridical foundation
of the town dates
back to 1310, when
Philiph of Angiou,
Prince of Taranto
assigned to the expandig
village a larger area
and granted some some
exemptions to the
inhabitants. This
is the reason why
the city was called
"Franca"
(which means free)
and Martina was given
to pay
homage to San Martino,
the patron of both
place and mountain.
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Philiph
d'Angiou bounded and
sorrounded the village
with high walls fortified
and defense tower,
some of which one
can still see nowdays
such as Porta Stracciata,
S. Francesco Door,
Carmine Door and S.Stefano
Arch. In the XV century,
Martina Franca became
an Aragonese Feud
and then in the XVI
century it was
a dukedom of the Caracciolo
family, a noble Family
from Naples. |
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1646 the inhabitans
of Martina Franca
raised up against
the Caracciolo Family
but they not succed
to overcome the, and
the family stayed
in power until 1806.
In the XVII Century,
the town reached its
magnificent, the economy
was increased, agriculture
and breeding expanded
remarkably, and there
was an urban settlement
that gave a new and
magnificent aspect
to the old town center. |
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During
the Republican risings,
the city of Martina
Franca partecipated
as a
protagonist with
patriots such as
the liberal Michele
Santoro e Giuseppe
Chiarelli untili
the unity of Italy.
Nowdays,
Martina Franca is
a textile district
of national relevance,
there are important
firms Chat export
their goods all
over the world,
within the cheese
and wine production
fields.
More importatly,
due to its beautiful
nature, geographical
position historical
sites, genuine gastronomy
and its typical
constructions named
trulli, Martina
Franca has become
an always increasing
tourist destination.
As
a matter of fact,
many people from
all over Europe,
not olly come to
visit Martina Franca,
but decide to move
here because of
the high quality
standards of life.
Welcome
To Martina Franca
The Magical Land
of Trulli.
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